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In his 1960 account with Bruno Walter and the Columbia Symphony, pianist Eugene Istomin achieved an incandescent brilliance in all three movements of this concerto. His performance crackles with life, yet makes no concession to effect; every note is treated as music, and every emotion rings true. Conductor and orchestra show a wonderful rapport with the soloist, breathing with him, sighing with him, rejoicing with him. The ambience is somewhat dry, but the recorded sound is thrillingly alive and lifelike. Interpretations like this don't come along very often, and when they do it's nice to have them recorded so successfully. --Ted Libbey